Every house is an investment. But unlike most other investments, there’s a considerable amount of work involved in making sure that asset increases in value over time. The key to increasing your home’s value is to take good care of your property both inside and out.
Home maintenance is rarely fun, and it sometimes costs money you’d rather spend on something else. But the money you spend on home repairs can add value to your home, so it’s not as if you’re simply throwing your money away.
With that in mind, some repair work is critical to your home’s longevity and value. Read on to learn about which home repairs shouldn’t be delayed.
Washing and sealing your deck
It’s not enough to simply seal your deck when you build it, then neglect to maintain it. Mold, mildew, algae and other growths on your deck can make the surface slippery and wear it down over time. Every one to three years – depending on what kind of climate you live in – you’ll want to power-wash your deck to clear away unwanted debris. You’ll then want to apply a sealant to your deck to keep water off the wood, thereby helping the deck last longer before the wood needs to be replaced. Sealant also helps deflect water when it rains, giving you a less slippery surface to walk on.
Shingling your roof
Wind, rain and hail can damage your roof’s shingles. While you can replace individual shingles if they become damage or are torn away, there comes a time when your entire roof’s shingles may need to be replaced. This usually occurs every 10 years or so, although that timeframe can depend on a variety of factors. Never neglect your roof. Broken or missing shingles can cause moisture to accumulate or allow easy access for vermin, so look for signs of deterioration and repair them as soon as possible.
Heating and cooling inspection
At least once a year, you should hire someone to professionally inspect your home’s heating and cooling systems. This routine procedure can identify problems in your furnace that could lead to unnecessary heating costs, ventilation hazards or other abnormalities that aren’t good for your home. An inspection costs a couple hundred dollars, but it’s well worth the cost when you consider the larger problems you can avoid through early detection. Get an inspection in the spring or fall, when there’s not as much need for your furnace and/or air conditioning unit.
Foundation repairs
Foundation settling is a common occurrence in many homes – particularly in homes built within the past few years. You’ll need to be on the lookout for signs of settling, sagging or other problems. Warning signs include cracking in your walls, lopsided doorways and windows, buckling or bowed walls, and/or floorboards that sag and separate from the walls. These repairs need to be addressed quickly, and inspected by a foundation repair professional, before they get worse.
When you purchase a home, you take on a lot of responsibility. It isn’t always easy footing the bill for various expenses and repairs, but keep in mind that you aren’t throwing that money away – it’s going into what’s probably the largest single asset you’ll ever own. Repairs and other maintenance are your method of protecting that investment and building toward positive gains years down the road.